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International Ecumenical Relations Email: mecc@cyberia.net.lb March, 2008
MECC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETS IN ANTELIAS The 24 newly elected Executive Committee members of the Middle East Council of Churches met in Antelias – Lebanon for two days (5 – 6 March 2008). The meeting was hosted by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church of Cilicia and President of the Council. This was the second Ex Co meeting after the 9th General Assembly. The agenda of the meeting highlighted several significant issues which will shape the future of the Council such as: the restructuring of the council, the 4-years action plan, the financial situation and policies, and the election of Associate General Secretaries, finance secretaries and directors of units and departments. The report of the General Secretary underlined some important issues and steps, which will practically enhance the development of the Council. It included the Churches’ ownership of the Council, some procedures to reduce the administrative costs, the relationships with the partners, the latest development concerning the Inter-Church Network of Development & Relief Program (ICNDR), the ecumenical ventures outside the MECC, and the restructuring of MECC. In his opening speech, His Holiness Catholicos Aram stressed on the need of Churches to work together more than any time before. "Unity for the churches of this region”, he said, “is not a theological matter; it is an existential issue. We must act responsibly, sustained by Gospel values”. Referring to MECC, H.H. affirmed that “MECC is the churches togetherness.” He also stressed on MECC to be “more credible, reliable, and committed to serve Christians and churches in the region with new creativity”. The Executive Committee issued a final statement, which is annexed. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb, rsiriani@scs-net.org
MECC PRESEIDENTS MEETS IN ANTELIAS Prior to the Executive Committee meeting, the four MECC Presidents met in Antelias – Lebanon on the 4th of March to review the agenda of the Ex Com meeting, suggest ideas and procedures, and discuss the new structure as well as the four years plan of action. Present was the General Secretary. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.org
CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ MOURNS THE ASSASINATION OF THE CHALDEAN BISHOP OF MOSUL “Shall we fear…They can kill the body but they cannot kill the soul” With these words the life of the late Bishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Mosul – Iraq ended. An unknown terrorist group assassinated Bishop Boulos Faraj Rahoo. An armed group kidnapped the 65 years old Bishop on 27 February 2008 after he concluded a Church service. Three of his companions were killed in that attack. The Iraqi police found his body on the 13th of March near Musol. The MECC quickly condemned the brutal killing of the Bishop. The statement called the Iraqi Government to open an immediate investigation on the incident, and encouraged the Muslim communities in the Arab world to voice out their condemnation against the killing of Christians in Iraq, which ultimately undermines the Christian Muslim coexistence. During the funeral, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Dalli of the Chaldean Church called in his sermon for peace and love. The Holy Father Pope Benedictus XVI expressed his deep sadness on the killing of the Bishop and asked to “stop violence, stop massacres, and stop hatred”. Many Eminent Christian and Muslim leaders as well as politicians condemned the killing that reflected hatred and no religion could accept it. Churches in the West also sent messages of condemnation and solidarity. Since 2003, terrorist fanatic groups attacked many churches in Iraq, and several priests and clergies were kidnapped, threatened or killed. Thousands of Christians left their homes to neighboring countries seeking security. Such criminal acts are destroying the culture of tolerance that both Christians and Muslims have established throughout the years in the region. For more information contact: rsiriani@scs-net.org
LATIN PATRIARCH IN THE HOLY LAND SET TO RETIRE he Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Patriarch Michel Sabbah, announced that he will retire on March 19th at the age of 75. Patriarch Sabbah was named Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem by Pope John Paul II in 1987, thus becoming the first Palestinian to hold the position since the Crusades. In his 13 pages Pastoral Letter, the Patriarch thanked God for the time of his ministry in Jerusalem, and promised that he “will continue to accompany the sufferings and the hopes of the men and women of this land, of all the believers, of all religions, who dwell in it”. Talking about unity of the church, the Patriarch considered it as “imperative and theological obligation”. He continued saying that “even if our jurisdictions prevent us from uniting, our love for one another can merit us the grace of communication in truth and through if of becoming a sign and a source of unity for the peoples of the Holy Land”. With reference to Christians in the Holy Land, the Patriarch said that they are:” like all the Palestinians, (they are) victims of the occupation….(they have) to pay the price in order to again find (their) political and economic freedom as well as in some ways, (their) religious freedom were access to the Holy Places and to Jerusalem itself is concerned”. The retired Patriarch served the MECC as one of the honorary Presidents between 1994 – 1999 representing the Catholic Family of Churches, and attended several General Assemblies. The full text of the Pastoral Letter can be obtained from: www.lpj.org
MECC SENIOR STAFF MEETS The MECC General Secretary called on 17 March for a senior staff meeting. The new Associates General Secretaries, finance secretary and directors appointed by the Executive Committee were present as well as other senior staff. The staff discussed in depth the administrative mechanism that can be adopted to carry out the work of the Council after the approval of the new structure and the 4-years plan of action. The staff reviewed the four-year plan of action and the policies of finance and expenditures. For further information contact: rsiriani@scs-net.org
CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST CELEBRATES EASTER WITH WORRIES AND HOPE Christians in the Middle East celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Gregorian calendar with worries and hope. A common date of celebrating Easter is still an issue of dialogue between churches in the region and worldwide. The presence of Christians in the region is seriously threatened in some countries like Iraq. The brain-drain of Christians from the region to the West has a serious impact on churches’ witness in societies. The systematic closures of areas surrounding the churches in Jerusalem by the Israelis had a negative impact on the freedom of worship. Gaza is under siege for months and Christians as well as Muslims are suffering from shortages of electricity and water. Despite all these challenges, “hope” is still a strong word that Christians in the Middle East hold with faith. The MECC General Secretary’s message called for intense prayers for peace. Annexed II message of MECC: Guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
NEW CHURCH IS CONSECRATED IN QATAR The Prince of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani donated a piece of land in Doha to build a campus of a group of churches. This is a message of moderate Islam which believes in peace, tolerance and coexistence. Qatar is another Gulf country that allows Christians to build churches and practice their religious rights. Fifteen thousand attended the first Catholic mass celebrated in the church of Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday 14th of March 2008. The mass was presided by Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples. The rite was celebrated in English, which was the language that could be understood by most faithful present. Anglican, Orthodox, Coptic and Indian Churches will follow the Catholic Church. The first Christian arrival to the Gulf in modern time was in 1956, while the existence of Christians in that region dated back to the 5th century. For more information: www.abouna.org. www.ucipliban.org
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN AUSTRALIA PASSES RESOLUTIONS ON THE HOLY LAND The National Council of Churches in Australia passed a series of resolutions on the situation in the Holy Land. It is the first time the Council has taken such a stand. It follows a visit to the region last year by a delegation of Church leaders, as well as international ecumenical developments, such as the new Palestine-Israel Ecumenical Forum. By passing these resolutions, the Council wants to take a Christian perspective on a land and its peoples who have endured longstanding and intense suffering – on both sides. Copied from: www.icappi.org.au
THE PRESIDENT OF All AFRICA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES VISTS EGYPT A delegation from ALL Africa Council of Churches (AACC) headed by Bishop Dandela the General Secretary visited churches in Egypt during 28 – 31 March 2008. The visit aimed at preparing for the AACC General Assembly which will be held in December 2008. The delegation met with Church leaders in Egypt: H.H. Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox, Dr Rev Safwat Al-Bayyadi President of Synod of Nile and MECC, H.B. Patriarch Theodoros II of the Greek Orthodox, and Bishop Mounir Hanna of the Episcopal Church. The delegation met also with the grand Imam of Azhar Dr Sheikh Tantawi. MECC General Secretary accompanied the delegation in their visits. For more information contact: guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
THE 20TH CONFERENCE OF THE HIGHER COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC AFFAIRS CONVENES Under the theme “Criteria of Societal Security in Islam”, representatives of about seventy Islamic countries met in their 20th conference of the Higher Council of Islamic Affairs in Cairo (15 – 17 March). The opening session was marked with words from the Prime Minister of Egypt Dr Ahmad Nazeef, the Minister of Awqaf Dr Mahmoud Zaqzouq, H.H. Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and the Grand Imam of Azhar Dr Tantawi. MECC General Secretary participated in the conference representing the Council. H.H. Pope Shenouda received in his residency the Grand Mufti of Lebanon and the president of the Higher Shiiat Council in Lebanon.
Annex I MECC Executive Committee Final Statement
The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held, on 5 and 6 March 2008, its second meeting since the meeting of the Ninth General Assembly in Cyprus. This meeting was presided by the four Presidents of the Council representing the four families of Churches of which the Council is formed, and they are: Catholicos Aram I for the Oriental Orthodox Family, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem for the Orthodox Family, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut Boulos Matar for the Catholic Family and Head of the Evangelical Church in Egypt Rev. Dr. Safwat el Bayadi for the Evangelical Family. Present also were all the members of the Executive Committee.
The participants adopted a number of decisions and administrative directives aiming to deepen the Church communion in the council and to confirm the Council’s role in serving the Churches and society as a whole. As a result of the discussions and exchange of views, the participants issued the following statement:
“The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches strongly denounces the activities perpetrated by the Israeli authorities in the Holy Land and Gaza Strip, and calls for stopping them immediately, for the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and from starting negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian National Authority with the aim of reaching of a just and permanent political solution that ensures the formation of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.
The Executive Committee also expresses its denial of the atrocities that take place in the beloved Iraq, whether by the occupying forces or the terrorist groups, and that causes the death of many and destroys all aspects of life in Iraq.
In face of the wounded Iraq, the Executive Committee does not forget to confirm its condemnation and denial of the ugly act of kidnapping of which Bishop Boulos Rahhou of Mousol was a victim, and calls on the Iraqi authorities to deploy all possible efforts for the quick release and liberation of Bishop Rahhou.
And while asking God for the return of security and stability in Lebanon, the Executive Committee calls all the Lebanese parties to quickly reach the political agreement in order to pass from the state of worry and dispersion that Lebanon is living now to the state of peace and prosperity.”
The Committee concluded its meeting by presenting its thanks to H.H. Catholicos Aram I for the generous hospitality His Holiness has provided for the Executive Committee meeting.
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh General Secretary The Middle East Council of Churches
Annex II MECC EASTER MESSAGE
For you have died, your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed
with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4) To our friends across the world we wish the peace and joy of the Risen Lord. The Middle East Council of Churches sends greetings to Christians around the world as they gather to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Resurrection provides hope for the future and offers us the promise of new life. May the Risen Lord grant that the strength of his life, peace and freedom experience everywhere. In Iraq, may peace finally prevail over the tragic violence that continues mercilessly to claim victims, who are living in a dramatic humanitarian situation that is no longer sustainable. We also pray sincerely that those caught up in the conflict in the Holy Land may find peace. May the international community assist the Palestinian people to overcome the precarious conditions in which they live and to build their future, moving towards the constitution of a state that is truly their own. As families and friends gather to enjoy this Easter season, we celebrate God's gift of freedom and His love that conquers death. For those who observe Easter, our faith brings confidence that good will overcome evil and that joy is everlasting. For those who observe Easter, we say it is a reminder of the awakening after slumber; of brightness after darkness; of liberation after imprisonment; of hope after entombment; of Resurrection after Crucifixion. Today, we give thanks for God's many blessings and pray for His peace in the affairs of men. Let us lit the Paschal candles in churches to symbolize the light of Christ, which has enlightened and continues to enlighten humanity, and conquering the sin and death forever. Let’s say to each other: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!
Guirguis Ibrahim Saleh General Secretary The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is a fellowship of churches in the Middle East, which foster the ecumenical movement in the region. It brings together almost all the region’s Christians in a body that focuses on strengthening the relations between churches, between Christians and non-Christians in the region, and between members of the body of Christ within and outside the region. In bringing these different churches together, MECC seeks to serve the needs of the broader society, by engaging in diakonical work, advocacy, education and training on behalf of the whole church, rather than one part of it. The MECC is founded in 1974 through its first General Assembly. The Council’s head quarter is in Beirut, Lebanon. However, regional offices in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Jerusalem exist.
For Contribution: Middle East Council of Churches HSBC Bank – Middle East Hamra Branch – Ras Beirut Beirut – Lebanon Account No: 003-074473-100 Bank Swift Code No: BBMELBBX
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